What is Reddit's opinion of The Five Chinese Brothers (Paperstar)?
From 3.5 billion Reddit comments

By popularity on Reddit, this product is:

#4 in Children's Multicultural Literature

5 reviews of this product found across Reddit:

Here is one from my childhood. Looking at it now, it’s super morbid and twisted. I loved it as a child. Def for children and not babies.

https://www.amazon.com/Five-Chinese-Brothers-Paperstar/dp/0698113578/ref=mp_s_a_1_2?ie=UTF8&qid=1547396653&sr=8-2&pi=AC_SX236_SY340_QL65&keywords=seven+chinese+brothers&dpPl=1&dpID=514w-R9Go8L&ref=plSrch

The Five Chinese Brothers what an obscure reference. I didn't realize the book was well known

Maybe the Chinese could step up next.

It's interesting that you mentioned that book in particular. There was a version called The Five Chinese Brothers that's generally regarded as racist due to the characterization of Chinese people in the illustrations. If it was this version, with Seven Brothers, I would've pointed out to your friend that the illustrators are a Taiwanese couple and actually have made a career of illustrating Asian folklore for children.